China sees boom in feasts for pets on Lunar New Year's Eve

A dog owner takes a photo as she feeds her pet during a "dinner for dogs" event at Kong Shan Yunnan Bistro in Shanghai on Jan. 25, 2025. Many young Chinese people forgo having children and get pets instead. A dog eats a prepared dish at Kong Shan Yunnan Bistro in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 25, 2025. Women gather with their dogs for a dinner event ahead of the Lunar New Year at Kong Shan Yunnan Bistro in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 25, 2025. "He's my soulmate," one of the attendees told a reporter, referring to her border collie, Yakult.

As pet parents in China usher in the Year of the Snake and host Lunar New Year’s Eve dinners with their loved ones, some are also making sure that their fur babies, or “mao hai zi,” are not left out.